"If you still plan to live in Rongcheng in the future, I won’t stop you, but there is no need for us to see each other again,"
"You’re still mad at me!"
Zhang Rujia knew she had done despicable things, more than once; thinking of Qin Mu’s mother made her feel even more guilty, but she had long forgiven herself.
"I’m not mad at you! Maybe this unhappy fate was arranged by heaven, but now, at our age, heaven has decided it’s time for us to part,"
Qin Haiming continued to talk to her, his mind wandering to Qin Mu, recounting how Mu Yichen had said the girl was suffering from a headache and cold. He thought it might be due to her being overworked during the past few days, leading to her body now reacting poorly.
Mu Yichen thought it was because he hadn’t taken good care of Qin Mu, while Qin Haiming believed Qin Mu was simply overexerted.
After Zhang Rujia left, Uncle Wang came into the ward, grumbling, "Why do you still have to speak so kindly to her?"
"She can’t handle tough talk; the more I frighten her, the more she clings on,"
said Qin Haiming to Uncle Wang.
"Ah! I really didn’t expect that... By the way, will the young mistress come over this afternoon?"
"She won’t be coming. Mu Yichen just called to say she has a cold and is resting at home,"
Qin Haiming told Uncle Wang, feeling a bit disappointed, but more so hoping his daughter would recover soon.
"The young mistress has a hard life, even though she looks so delicate and precious,"
Qin Haiming listened and just chuckled, without adding any comments.
In the afternoon, Mu Yichen left the house while Qin Mu received a video call from Jian Yan.
Jian Yan saw she looked like she’d just gotten out of bed, his eyes politely averting.
Qin Mu, rubbing her eyes, sat down on the couch and snuggled in it as she continued the video call with him.
"A bit of a cold, but I’m feeling much better now. Just a bit tired after sleeping too much,"
"That’s good. By the way, have you looked at the design sketches I sent you yesterday?"
"Yes! Is this the evening dress you’re designing for that master? It’s been a long time since you’ve designed clothes for anyone else."
Qin Mu, who really wanted to lie down, didn’t dare to do so in front of Jian Yan. So she just hugged her knees, her chin resting on her kneecaps, and propped her phone on the couch armrest with a stand to continue the chat.
From that angle, she actually looked quite put-together, except Jian Yan felt heartache seeing her pale face.
"Have you lost weight again lately?"
Instead of replying immediately, Jian Yan asked her first.
"My boss was in a car accident a few days ago, but he’s alright now,"
Qin Mu’s expression subtly changed as she spoke.
Jian Yan’s brows furrowed slightly.
Qin Mu suddenly realized that the person she referred to might not be known to others and immediately explained to Jian Yan.
"It’s good that he’s alright now. Seems like there’s progress between you and your father,"
Jian Yan somewhat relieved, she needed a father, despite never admitting it.
"That’s good; from now on in Rongcheng, you don’t have to say you don’t have a family anymore."
"Let’s talk about the design sketches first. Who is so influential to have inspired you to create?"
"Haven’t I always been working?"
Qin Mu’s eyes turned teasing, "Could it be an old flame?"
"Disrespectful child,"
Jian Yan chided in a low voice, yet his eyes were full of affectionate tolerance.
However, he did not deny it.
Qin Mu then wondered if there might come a day when Jian Yan would reconcile with his ex-girlfriend.
Perhaps she, as his apprentice, would even get to see the day her master gets married. Qin Mu suddenly found herself looking forward to it.
Before dinner, she still went to see Qin Haiming, bringing along Mu Qingxin, who loved to join in on the fun, and of course, because her relationship with Qin Mu had improved, she accompanied her to visit.
Qin Haiming sent them home quickly, not wanting them to miss their family’s dinner and disliking the idea of Qin Mu overexerting herself for his sake.
Qin Haiming had planned to stay in the hospital for a few more days, but the moment Qin Mu fell ill, he immediately changed his mind.
When Qin Mu and Mu Qingxin got home, it was getting dark, and Mu Yichen had just returned.
The two women parked the car and stood by, waiting for Mu Yichen’s car to drive up. Mu Qingxin, her arm looped through Qin Mu’s slim one, watched Mu Yichen coolly step out of his car and couldn’t help but ask Qin Mu, "Don’t you think every movement of my brother seems trained?"
Qin Mu hadn’t noticed!
But Qin Mu did think that Mu Yichen’s every move was very gentlemanly.
"Sigh! Maybe it’s the education abroad since he was young, he just seems less casual,"
Qin Mu then looked at Mu Yichen again, failing to spot any awkwardness, except for his being too handsome.